Island Council members at the archaeological excavation site at F.D. Roosevelt Airport in St. Eustatius.ST. EUSTATIUS--Island Council members visited the burial grounds at the archaeological excavation at F.D. Roosevelt Airport on Friday, May 14.
After receiving a verbal presentation by the archaeological team two weeks ago, the council members expressed their desire to visit the site first-hand. They were given a comprehensive tour of the Golden Rock 2021 (GR2021) site by project director Ruud Stelten, St. Eustatius Center for Archaeological Research (SECAR) interim director Alex Hinton and osteoarchaeologist Felicia Fricke. Department of Culture programme manager Nasha Radjouki was also present.
The Island Council was informed on the next steps that will take place during the following weeks. They also gained insights into how the team discovers, removes and processes the skeletons that were found.
Several burials that are currently being evacuated were shown and the councilmembers saw artefacts that were found in the research area.
Fricke explained the importance of the burial goods and the burials, as they give an understanding of the status of the deceased.
Council Member Reuben Merman asked why this site is so special. Stelten explained that in the 1980s and 1990s most of the archaeological research was focused on the plantation homes and warehouses in the Caribbean.
“It is only recently that archaeologists have begun to focus on the story of the enslaved people,” said Stelten, who pointed out that it is “incredibly moving and rare” to find the majority of burials done in such a careful and respectful way.
“We are quite certain that this is one of the largest burial grounds ever to be discovered in the Caribbean,” said. Stelten.
He also explained that most likely there are more graves located near GR2021, but archaeological protocol advises against disturbing any area not needed for redevelopment.
https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/members-of-island-council-visit-airport-burial-grounds
